As part of the build-up to the 15th Africa Day Lecture, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, in partnership with AngloGold Ashanti, hosted a compelling Town Hall discussion at the historic Nkrumah Hall of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM).

Themed “Reigniting the African Renaissance,” the week-long series of events has brought together influential African leaders, intellectuals, and citizens to reflect critically on the continent’s trajectory and the unfinished business of its renaissance.

The UDSM Town Hall featured thought-provoking reflections from former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the South African National Assembly, and Simon Shayo, a UDSM alumnus and mining executive. 

Students from UDSM also voiced their perspectives on youth empowerment, emphasizing the need for inclusive and participatory approaches to tackle the unique challenges facing Africa’s young generation.

President Mbeki challenged attendees to reflect on the visibility and relevance of key continental policies, particularly those focused on youth development. 

He posed a striking question—how many young Africans even know these policies exist? Citing the inactivity of AU institutions like ECOSOCC in countries such as Tanzania, he pointed to a disconnect between the continent’s institutional frameworks and the lived realities of its citizens. 

He called on Africa’s political leadership to rekindle the spirit of responsibility and self-sacrifice that characterized the continent’s liberation struggles.

Highlighting UDSM’s intellectual legacy, Mbeki recalled the university’s role in shaping post-independence discourse and urged the current generation to reclaim that mantle. “UDSM must again become a space where Africa’s future is critically imagined,” he said.

Former President Kikwete commended the Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s enduring vision for a self-reliant and proactive Africa. Echoing the event’s theme, he declared that the flame of the African Renaissance had been reignited, urging stakeholders to embrace meaningful reform rather than cosmetic changes.

Dr. Ndlozi emphasized the importance of cultivating a deep sense of continental consciousness and commitment among Africans. In his remarks, Simon Shayo questioned the continent’s persistent underestimation of its potential, especially when compared to other global regions. 

Both speakers underscored the urgent need to invest in Africa’s intellectual and leadership capital as a means of reclaiming the continent’s narrative and future.

The Town Hall was part of a series of engagements leading up to the Africa Day Lecture, which will culminate in a high-level roundtable discussion hosted by AngloGold Ashanti and President Mbeki on Friday, 23 May, followed by the main Africa Day Lecture on Saturday, 24 May at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.